Knockdown counter construction



March 31, 1959 R, D

KNOCKDOWN COUNTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 5, 195

INVENTOR 1 R BER M. R FEVER BY ATTORNEY Ed is Pater 2,879,561 KNOCKDOWN COUNTER CONSTRUCTION Robert M. Rieder, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Rieder Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership This invention relates to store fixtures and is more particularly concerned with counters.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a knockdown counter the members of which are secured together by novel means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a knockdown counter the members of which are secured together by novel means for coaction which effects an exceedingly rigid assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a counter wherein component parts of the novel securing means are readily separable.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide such a counter wherein component parts of the novel securing means are quick detachably securedltogether by yieldable means.

And an additional object of this invention is to provide such a counter which is exceedingly simple in design and construction and which is comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing, which is illustrative of a preferred construction embodying the principles of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a counter embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower shelf fitting encircled by a broken line in Figure I;

Figure 3 is the same as Figure 2 but shows component parts of the fitting in detached condition;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation through the fitting of Figures 2 and 3 showing component parts of the fitting in partially engaged condition;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation through the fitting of Figures 2, 3 and 4 showing the component parts of the fitting in fully engaged condition;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion on the left hand side of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a component part of the shelf fitting shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

The form of counter shown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinafter embodies the present invention, but is chosen solely for purposes of illustration. The counter is provided with a pair of upright panel members 10 and 11 disposed respectively at opposite ends of the counter, three shelf members 12, 13 and 14 between the end panel members 10 and 11, and a set of fittings 15 and 16 which secure all of the aforementioned members together in a manner to be described.

The end panel members 10 and 11 are preferably made of wood and are generally rectangular in shape. The shelf member 12 is preferably made of wood and is provided with a principal part 17 which has conventionally secured to the underside thereof a pair of wooden base boards 18 and 19 which extend longitudinally respectively along the front and rear thereof and a second pair of wooden base boards 20 and 21 which extend transversely respectively along the opposite ends thereof. The shelf members 13 and 14 are preferably made of wood and are provided respectively with principal parts 22 and 23 each of which has conventionally secured to the underside thereof a pair of wooden ribs 24-24 which extend longitudinally thereof in relatively spaced relation. The lowermost edge of the end panels 10 and 11 and of the base boards 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the shelf member 12 are preferably disposed in coplanar relation for engaging a supporting floor (not shown). The terminal portions of the shelf members 12, 13 and 14 which are proximate the end panel member 10 are provided with vertically extending surfaces which are disposed in coplanar relation and which abut the inwardly presenting surface of the end panel member 10. The terminal portions of the shelf members 12, 13 and 14 which are proximate the end panel member 11 are provided with vertically extending surfaces which are disposed in coplanar relation and which abut the inwardly presenting surface of the end panel member 11. In this connection, it will be noted that the effective vertical depth of either upper shelf member is the combined depths of its principal part and of the underlying ribs, while the effective vertical depthof the lower shelf member 12 is the combined depths of its principal part and of its underlying base boards. The upper terminal portions of the end panel members 10 and 11 preferably extend above the shelf member 14.

At each junction of the lower shelf member 12 with an end panel 10 or 11 there are provided preferably two assemblies 15-15 spaced crosswise of the counter. Referring particularly to Figures 2-5, each assembly 15 includes a latch 25 and yieldable means in the form of a leaf spring detent 26 on the lower shelf member 12 and a keeper 27 on the end panel member. The latch 25 preferably is a sheet metal stamping provided with a rectangular base 28 seated on the upwardly presenting surface of the principal part 17 of the shelf 12 and with a pair of integral upwardly extending generally rectangular arms 29-29 disposed respectively on oppositesides of the base 28 and positioned proximate the end panel of the counter with vertically extending corresponding edges abutting the same. It will be observed that the upper portions of the arms 29-29 are tapered, as by cuts 30-30.

The leaf spring 26 is provided with a base 31 seated upon the base 28 of the latch 25 and with an integral upwardly and inwardly extending portion 32 freely disposed between the arms 29-29 of the latch 25, the upper end of the portion 32 being provided with a hook or shoulder 33 and a curved lip 34. The latch 25 and leaf spring 26 are secured to the principal part 17 of the shelf 12 by wood screws 35-35 projected through alined apertures in the base 28 of the latch 25 and the base 31 of the leaf spring 26.

The keeper 27 preferably is a sheet metal stamping the opposite end portions of which are secured to the end panel member by wood screws 36 and an intermediate portion 37 of which is inwardly offset for coaction with the end panel member to afford a vertically extending aperture 38. When the latch 25, leaf spring 26 and keeper 27 are secured in place as aforesaid, the latter is upper edge of the portion 37 of the keeper 27. The parts 25 and 27 are thus disposed in hooked relation and maintained in such relation by the interaction of the portion 33 of the leaf spring 26 with the portion 37 of the keeper 27.

At each junction of an upper shelf 13 or 14 with an end-panel member or 11 there are provided preferably two assemblies 1616. Referring particularly to Figures 6-10, each assembly 16 includes a latch 39 and a leaf spring detent 40 on the end panel member and a keeper .41 on the upper shelf member. The latch 39 preferably is a sheet metal stamping provided with a rectangular base 42 seated against the inwardly presenting surface of the end panel member and with a pair of integral upwardly extending generally rectangular arms 4343 disposed on opposite-sides of the base 42 and spaced from the base 42 and the end panel member. It will beobserved that the upper end portions of the arms 43-43 are tapered, as by cuts 44-44. The leaf spring 40 is provided with a base 45 adapted to overlie the base 42 of the latch 39 and with an integral portion 46 extending laterally from the lower end of the base 45 and then upwardly alongside the latch 39, the upper end of the portion 46 being provided with a hook 47 and a curved lip 48. The latch 39 and leaf spring 40 are secured to the end panel member by wood screws 49-49 projected through alined apertures in the base 42 of the latch 39 and the base 45 of the leaf spring 40.

The keeper 41 preferably is a sheet metal stamping in the form of a T the head of which is provided with a rectangular slot or latchway 50. The keeper 41 is secured to the bottom of a terminal portion of a rib 24 of the upper shelf member by wood screws 51-51 projected through the stem of the T. When the latch 39, leaf spring 40 and keeper 41 are respectively secured in place as aforesaid, the opposite end portions of the head of the keeper 41 extend'outwardly respectively from the opposite sides of the rib 24 preferably equal distances and the slot 50 in the head of the keeper 41 affords a pair of openings which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the rib 24, into which openings are adapted to be respectively projected the arms 43-43 of the latch 39. It will be observed that the width of the arms 43- 43 is such that they fit snugly into the aforementioned openings between the opposed edges of the slot 59. When the said arms 43-43 are fully projected into the openings thus provided upon opposite sides of the rib 24, the slotted head of the T-shaped keeper 41 rests upon the top edges of the internested base portions 42 and 45 of the latch 39 and spring 40, while at the same time the portion 46 of the leaf spring 40 is biased into firm engagement with one end of the slotted head of the T- shaped keeper 41. The latch 39 and keeper 41 are thus disposed in hooked relation and maintained in such relation by the interaction of the leaf spring 40 and its hook 47 with the freely projecting end of the slotted head of the keeper 41.

In dismantling the counter, the shelf member 12 may be removed by first applying finger pressure to the portions 32 of the several leaf springs 26 of the assemblies to press each against its end panel member and by simultaneously raising the end panel members 10 and 11, whereupon the end panelmembers 10 and 11 and the several keepers 27 are withdrawn from engagement with the arms 29 of the several assembly latches and the portions 32 of the several leaf springs 26. In replacing the shelf member 12, finger pressure may be applied as before and simultaneously the end panel members 10 and 11 may be lowered, whereupon the arms 29 of the several assembly latches 25 and the portions 32 of the several leaf springs 26 enter the apertures 38 formed by the end panel members 10 and 11 and the several keepers 27. It will be observed that the lips 34 of the leaf spring portions 32 are curved as shown and the arms 29 of the latches 25 are tapered as at to facilitate entrance of the portions 32 and the arms 29 into the apertures 38. The shelf member 13 or the shelf member 14 may be removed by applying finger pressure to the portions 46 of the several leaf springs 40 of the assemblies 16 to disengage the hooks 47 from the keepers 41 and then disengaging the complementary latches 39 and keepers 41 by raising the shelf member. In replacing the shelf member 13 or 14, the shelf member may be positioned with its several keepers 41 respectively over their complementary latches 39 and resting on the lips 48 of their leaf springs 40. Then the shelf may be pressed downwardly against the resistance of the portions 46 of the springs 40 until the hooks 47 engage over the keepers 41. It will be observed that the lips 48 of the leaf spring portion 46 are curved as shown and the arms 43 of the latches 39 are tapered as at 44 to facilitate entrance of the arms 43 into the openings provided therefor as aforesaid. Any shelf member may be removed or replaced with the others in place.

Since the arms 2929 of the part 25 of a lower shelf fitting when fully projected into the associated aperture 38 fit snugly therein so that no appreciable movement is permitted, provision must be made for facilitating the entrance of the arms 29--29 into the aperture 38 when the counter is assembled, particularly since a pair of assemblies 15 is provided at each end of the shelf. For this purpose the arms 2929 are tapered preferably as aforementioned to provide upper end portions of reduced width adapted to serve as pilots, only the lower end portions of the arms 2929 being of such width that the oppositely facing edges thereof will respectively abut the portions 37 of the keeper 27 and the end panel membet. Similarly, since the arms 43-43 of the latch 39 of an upper shelf member when fully projected into the associated slot 50 fit snugly therein so that no movement is permitted between the opposed edges of the slot 50 as aforementioned, provision must be made for facilitating the entrance of the arms 43-43 into the slot 50 when the counter is assembled, particularly since a pair of assemblies 16 is provided at each end of the shelf. For this purpose the arms 43-43 are tapered preferably as aforementioned to provide upper end portions of reduced width adapted to serve as pilots, only the lower end portions of the arms 43-43 being of such width that the oppositely facing edges thereof will respectively abut the opposed edges of the slot 50.

It should be apparent now that a knockdown counter has been provided which utilizes novel means for rigidly securing together the component members thereof in quick detachable easily assembled relation. No special tools are necessary for dismantling or assembling the counter, and the counter is simple in design and construction and comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

It will be understood, of course, that the counter as herein shown and .described is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without any departure from the general principles or real spirit of the present invention. For example, the number and arrangement of shelf members may be varied, as byomitting the floor engaging lower shelf member 12 .or the upper shelf 13. Furthermore, the counter may be made entirely of metal, in which case the assemblies 15 and 16 may be formed as permanently associated parts of the end panels and shelf members. Accordingly, it.is intended .to claim the present invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A three piece spring-locking fastening assembly for quickly detachably securing together a pair of substantially perpendicularly disposed planar members, said assembly comprising a keeper, a latching member, and a spring detent each formed of sheet material, said keeper including a latchway for the arms of said latching member and being adapted for 'securement to a firstone of said pair of planar members, said latching member and said spring detent being adapted for conjoint securement to the second of said pair of planar members, said latching member including a main body portion and a pair of extension arms formed integrally therewith, said arms being adapted for disposition within said latchway by being bent into parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said main body portion and spaced by the width of the latter, the width of said arms Within said parallel planes being substantially greater than the thickness of said latching member sheet material and substantially equal to one dimension of said latchway, said spring detent being provided intermediate its effective length with a shoulder adapted for locking engagement with said keeper when said latching member arms are disposedwithin said latchway, whereby said planar members may be rigidly secured together by the close-fitting interlocking engagement of said keeper and latching member extension arms.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the width of said spring detent is slightly less than the distance between the arms of said latching member and lies between said arms within said latchway.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said spring detent throughout its effective length lies external to said latching member and the arms of said latching member being disposed in face to face relation with respect to said spring detent along substantially the full length of the latter.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said spring detent throughout its effective length lies external to said latching member and said latchway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

